NCJ Number
143038
Date Published
1992
Length
14 pages
Annotation
Because an estimated 40 million persons worldwide will be infected with HIV by the year 2000 and the economic impact may reach 1.4 percent of a country's gross domestic product, the Business Responds to AIDS (BRTA) program has been developed as a public-private partnership involving the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the public health sector, and business and labor.
Abstract
The BRTA program helps businesses design and implement workplace-based HIV and AIDS policies and implement education programs for employees, their families, and the community. In addition to education, services, and prevention of the spread of HIV, program goals are to prevent discrimination and foster community service and volunteerism both in the workplace and in the community. BRTA has developed materials and technical assistance to help businesses form a comprehensive HIV and AIDS program that includes policy development, manager/labor leader training, employee and family education, and community involvement. Written policies of businesses with respect to HIV and AIDS should address the following issues: Federal, State, and local laws; employee hiring, promotion, transfer, and dismissal; confidentiality of employee medical records and information; benefit programs available to employees and family members with AIDS; ways management can address workplace discrimination; and employee education to prevent AIDS. Basic facts about HIV and AIDS are provided.